2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Engine Problems

I am writing about this incident after finding out about the lawsuit filed against Mercedes concerning problems with the balance shaft, the soft metal they used in production, and the COMMON engine codes (P0016 & P0017). I am [XXX] and I was on the highway with my girlfriend going around 75mph and I smelled a burning smell and thought it might’ve been the truck/one of the cars in front of me. All of a sudden my power steering was gone and my car basically lost all power. Only the brakes worked. Thank god the other cars were far enough away from me and I didn’t put anyone else in danger. Due to the loss of control I was forced to pull into the breakdown lane on the LEFT side which was so incredibly dangerous since the highway was so busy. I eventually pulled to the right side of the highway when there was enough space and time to do so and opened my hood and saw that my tensioner blew and the serpentine belt came off. I was so angry because the dealer that sold me the car told me the codes were only emission related and did not affect the mechanics of the car. That’s a whole other issue. I am not so very mechanically inclined but after extensive research I’ve found that this code (which was covered up by Mercedes) was most likely the culprit and has been causing me issues throughout my experience with the vehicle. I am a broke college student. Yes, it was stupid to buy a Mercedes, but I was [XXX] and I’ve learned a lot about cars and the industry since then. At the end of the day, despite my stupidity and ignorance, Mercedes should be held responsible for this issue and everyone who has [had incidents similar to myself or have the codes that I have deserve to be reimbursed for all the repairs, time, and danger they have and will eventually put people in. Don't wait for someone to die on the highway before you consider issuing a recall. DO SOMETHING. I shouldn’t have to fear for my life going out in this car to get to work, school, and most importantly, my family. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

On Oct 25, 2022 while returning home from Denver International Airport the check engine light illuminated on the dash of my Mercedes Benz. The car was exhibiting increasing power loss and rough running which increased while driving north on Interstate 25 in heavy morning traffic. I was in doubt that he car would make it home. The car has been diagnosed subsequently the the Mercedes Benz m272 engine nance shaft gear problem with estimated cost to repair of US $6300.00. The car is definitely not dependable to drive with this problem due to the likelihood of failure in traffic.

Balance shaft and idle gear sprocket failure causing engine to misfire when idle or from warm start and cause idling during acceleration. Safety could be an issue if it causes greater internal damage or if the failure to accelerate fully may impact my ability to avoid an unsafe situation. Problem has been confirmed by a repair shop and has been admitted to be a common issue with M272 engine due to metallurgy defect during manufacture. This issue was part of a class action lawsuit against Mercedes Benz USA, which resulted in limited compensation to few people but a safety investigation was not conducted. MIL lamp does indicate an issue (P0016, P0017).

The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes-Benz C230. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the balance shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

MY CAR RAN HOT AND EVERYTHING ON THE INSIDE BEGAN TO FLICKER. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF TO LET IT COOL. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON WITH THE EMFAMOUS P0016 AND P0017 CODES AD I LATER FOUND OUT AND IT HAS NOT RUN THW SAME SINCE. IF DRAGS, SHIFTS INCORRECTLY, AND PULLS WRONG NOW.

THE CAR REACHED 110,000 MILES AND THE BALANCE SHAFT IN MY M272 IS WORN OUT I ALWAYS TAKE IT TO GET IT SERVICED I FOUND OUT OTHERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND CREATED A FACEBOOK GROUP I JUST DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD REPLACE IT WITH THE SAME QUALITY BALANCE SHAFT IF IT CONTINUES TO FAIL PREMATURELY EVENTUALLY I'LL RUIN MY ENTIRE ENGINE WHICH I THOUGHT OF MERCEDES TO BE QUALITY PLEASE HELP VIN# [XXX] REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC

ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM MAJOR ENGINE REPAIR ENGINE OIL LEAK ENGINE BELT DRIVE MAJOR OIL USAGE REAR R/DISCS & PADS; THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE ALEXANDRIA MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIP FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT; I REC'D A LIST OF OVER $6,000 (ABOVE) WORTH OF ENGINE PROBLEMS; I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE CAM SENSORS WERE BAD; NO COST WAS LISTED; I LEFT THE LOCATION, CAR STARTED STALLING AND HESITATING; TOOK IT TO ANOTHER LOCAL NTB DEALER FOR A MACHINE READING, AND WAS TOLD THAT A PART OF THE ENGINE MANIFOLD WAS BROKEN - PLASTIC PART THAT CONTROLS THE AIR FLOW AND ENABLES FUEL FLOW; TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER; THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR MY ENGINE MANIFOLD; THE CAR IS NOW DANGEROUS TO DRIVE; JUMPED OUT OF GEAR ON THE MAJOR HIGHWAY BACK TO DC - ALL OF THIS IS A SHOCK; THE CAR HAS HAD ALL OF ITS ANNUAL SERVICE; KEPT UP; HAS HAD CAR COVER; ZI BOUGHT IT NEW IN 2007; NOW WITH ONLY 40,000 MILES, THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT DISINTEGRATE; THE ENTIRE ATTITUDE OF THE ALEXANDRIA MB DEALERSHIP IS HORRIFIC; AS A CONSUMER I WAS ROBBED AND MY SAFETY AND THOSE ON THE ROAD WERE ENDANGERED DUE TO THIS POOR SERVICE AND POSSIBLE INFLATED LIST OF ENGINE PROBLEMS, ONE OF WHICH I WAS TOLD THEY CREATED. AND AT ANY RATE, MD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING CERTAIN THESE ENGINE PROBLEMS SHOULD NOT EXIST, AFTER ALL THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR; NO ONE TOLD ME THAT THE CAR ENGINE WAS ONLY GOOD FOR 40,000!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ C230WZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF SCOTTSDALE (4725 N SCOTTSDALE RD, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85251) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALANCE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

CHECK ENGINE CAME ON SO I TAKE IT TO THE SHOP THEY SAID IT WAS THE CRANKSHAFT SENSORS CODE BUT THAT CODE WAS NOT FOR THE SENSORS IT WAS FOR THE TIMING CHAIN THEY SAID ITS NOT RUNNING ON TIME SO NOW TO FIX IT THEY ARE CHARNING ME ALMOST $4000 I HEAR AND BEEN READING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE THEY TIMING GOES OFF SO I THINK THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED ITS SO MUCH MONEY NOT EVEN THE CAR IS WORTH THAT MINEY NO MORE

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON IN MY CAR BECAUSE OF A CAMSHAFT SOLENOID PROBLEM. HAD SOLENOIDS ALL REPLACED AND NOW DEALER IS ASKING FOR $2300 TO $3000 FOR PROBLEM TO BE FIXED AFTER ALL NEW PARTS HAVE BEEN PUT IN.

ENGINE STARTED MISFIRING AND LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING UPHILL IN HAWAII THE AND THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE UP THE HILL IT HAD NO POWER. THERE HAS BEEN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THE CAMSHAFT WHICH MERCEDES LOST HOWEVER WHEN I CALLED MERCEDES TO HELP FIX THE ISSUE THEY SAID TIME HAS EXPIRED AND THIS WAS NO LONGER VALID.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

IN NOVEMBER OF 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ USA INITIATED A SERVICE CAMPAIGN THAT AFFECTED APPROX. 1,064,723 VEHICLES. THE DEFECTIVE PART WAS THE CAMSHAFT SOLENOID. MBUSA SENT THIS NOTICE TO ALL DEALERSHIPS, BUT FAILED TO NOTIFY THE VEHICLE OWNERS DIRECTLY. THEY APPARENTLY DID NOT DEEM THIS TO BE A SAFETY RECALL AND FELT NO OBLIGATION TO NOTIFY THE CONSUMER. HOWEVER, WHEN THE SOLENOID MALFUNCTIONS DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE PART IT DOES IN FACT AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE AND DRIVING ABILITY OF THE CAR. IF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IN WHICH IS THE CASE HERE, IT DOES BECOME A SAFETY CONCERN. IT SEEMS THAT MBUSA KNOWINGLY WITHHELD THIS INFORMATION FROM THEIR CONSUMERS. DURING THE TIME OF THEIR CAMPAIGN MY VEHICLE WAS ALSO UNDER WARRANTY AS WELL. MBUSA HAD AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO NOTIFY THEIR CUSTOMERS OF THIS ISSUE TO HAVE IT CORRECTED. THEY NEVER ACTIVELY PROVIDED NOTICES TO CUSTOMERS DIRECTLY. DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION OF THE AFFECTED SOLENOID, MY VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPAIRED IN APRIL 2015. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED IN MARCH 2014. I HAD MY VEHICLE REPAIRED AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AT A COST OF $232.93. MBUSA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR FAILURE TO NOTIFY THE VEHICLE OWNERS OF THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD IF NOT CORRECTED, AS WELL AS THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REIMBURSE ANY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES THAT WERE INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THIS ISSUE. I HAVE ATTACHED A COPY OF THE BULLETIN THAT MBUSA PROVIDED TO THEIR DEALERSHIPS, BUT AGAIN FAILED TO PROVIDE TO THE 1,064,723 CONSUMERS THAT WERE AFFECTED.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ C280W. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE COOLING FAN STAYED ON INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

AUGUST OF THIS YEAR I HAD TO GET A SPEED SENSOR REPLACED THAT COST ME $1200.00 BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 30 MPH AND WAS RUNNING AT A HIGH RPM. THE VEHICLE DEMONSTRATED THIS PROBLEM OVER A YEAR BEFORE I ACTUALLY HAD TO TAKE IT INTO A REPAIR SHOP. I COULD USUALLY PULL OVER AND CUT THE CAR OFF AND CUT IT BACK ON AND IT WOULD CORRECT ITSELF WHICH WAS TOTALLY RIDICULOUS. SOMETHING REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE PERTAINING TO THE FAULTY PARTS USED TO BUILD THESE VEHICLES. I FEEL MY $1200.00 ALSO NEEDS TO BE REFUNDED BACK TO ME IN A CHECK FORM ASAP. *TR

THERE IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURE DEFECT IN THE M272 ENGINE. THE ENGINE BALANCE SHAFT SPROCKET WAS MADE OF SOFT METAL WHICH CAUSES THE DRIVE SPROCKET TO WEAR PREMATURELY. THIS WEAR CAUSES THE TIMING OF THE ENGINE TO BECOME OFF, WHICH THEN CAUSES THE CAR TO AUTOMATICALLY GO INTO LIMP MODE. IN LIMP MODE, THE CAR SUDDENLY CANNOT BE DRIVEN OVER 20 MPH AND THE ENGINE HAS TO BE SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED TO EXIT LIMP MODE. I APPROACHED A MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP AND THE ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR WAS OVER $7,000! THIS ENGINE DEFECT CAUSES THE CAR TO GO INTO LIMP MODE AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ C-280.THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE THE RIGHT INTAKE CAM SHAFT MAGNET AND THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE BALANCE SHAFT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE.

I PURCHASED MERCEDES BENZ C230, 2007 FROM THE LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP, AND IN A WEEK THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. I BROUGHT BACK THE CAR TO ITS SERVICE DIVISION AND IT SAID THAT CODE WAS A PROBLEM. THEY DID SOMETHING AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF FOR A WEEK. THEN, I RETURNED TO THEIR SERVICE CENTER AGAIN AND THEY SAID THAT FUEL WAS NOT BEING SUPPLIED EVENLY IN THE ENGINE. SUGGESTED TO GO TO THE MERCEDES SERVICE CENTER. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP IN MARION, IL. THEY TURNED OF THE LIGHT BY UPDATING COMPUTER PROGRAM. HOWEVER, IN A WEEK THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I PURCHASED IT ON MARCH 31, 2014. I WENT TO THE LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP TO REFUND MY MONEY. HOWEVER, THEY REFUSED. THEY SAID THAT THIS CAR HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM A YEAR AGO. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP DID NOT CHECK WELL THE CAR'S BACKGROUND BEFORE SELLING. THEY SAID THAT THE BACKGROUND OF THE CAR WAS CLEAN. I CANNOT DRIVE THIS CAR TO LONG DISTANCE WITH THIS FAULTY. IT IS SIMPLY UNSAFE. I REQUESTED TO REFUND MY PAYMENT OF 13,500, AND THEY REFUSED. PLEASE HELP SINCERELY *TR

THE BALANCE SHAFT ISSUE IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO MERCEDES IN THE M272 AND M273 MODELS CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE MATERIAL USED IN MAKING IT. I HAVE ADDED THE EXCERPT FROM THE MERCEDES SERVICE BULLETIN : "APPLICABLE MODELS (NOT APPLICABLE TO MODEL 164.156, 204 OR 216.386): EQUIPPED WITH M272 ENGINE UP TO SERIAL NO. 2729..30 468993 OR M273 ENGINE UP TO SERIAL NO. 2739..30 088611. THE MATERIAL FOR THE BALANCE SHAFT SPROCKET AND THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDE WHEEL (IDLER) WAS MODIFIED ON ENGINES PAST THE SERIAL NUMBERS LISTED ABOVE" THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PART. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND FOUND OUT IT WAS AN ENGINE ISSUE THAT MERCEDES DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR. *TR

I WAS ON THE FWY AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SHUT DOWN ON ME IT COMPLETELY TURN OFF. SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IT DOES THE SAME PROBLEM WHEN I'M ON THE FWY OUT OF NO WHERE THE CAR SHUT DOWN. I HAVE TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES UNTIL I CAN TURN ON AGAIN I ALMOST GOT INTO A HUGE ACCIDENT WITH A BIG RIG AND I HAD MY MANAGER WHO WITNESS HOW THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN. I FEEL THAT THE CAR IS VERY UNSAFE STEERING WHEEL NOT STABLE CORRECTLY AND I FEEL THAT IT HAS SOME KIND OF ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BUT THE WEIRD PART NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES UP TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP MORE THEN 3X AND THEY SAID THE CAR WAS PERFECTLY FINE. *TR